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APPLICATION mu) NOV. 10. 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. 1916.-

Patented Dec.14-,1920

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twisted or blown down.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SOHWESINGER, JR., 0F BALTIIYIORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HERMAN L. PIEL, J'R., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SIGN.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE SoHWEsINGER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in signs, and more particularly to field Heretofore the large advertising signs which have been placed in exposed places along railway right of ways and highways have been constructed of large dimensions, wood being the material usually employed, strongly braced in the rear or in some instances wood with metal coverings with rear braces.

Under severe weather conditions, especially high winds, these signs are often bent, When the signs become obliterated by exposure, it is necessary forthe artist to visit the locality and repaint the same. This is inconvenient and expensive.

The present invention has for its objects the provision of a field sign which will avoid the necessity of intricate back bracing-s, which will be so constructed as to properly resist wind pressure, which will embody the principle of the swinging section sign and which will be so constructed that the various sections can be easily and readily removed for transportation to the studio of the painter for repainting.

A. further object of the invention is that of producing an inexpensive sign which will be strong and durable, one which will occupy comparatively little space and one which can be positioned in exposed places without danger of being blown down or twisted.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a construction embodying the essentials of the invention, but it is to be understood that many changes in the various details thereof can be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of a sign embodying the invention;

2 is a vertical section taken through one of the panels; 1

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of a panel Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec 14 1920 Application filed. November 10, 1916.

Serial No. 130,625.

supporting bracket showing the carrying trunnion in cross section and in longitudinal elevation respectively.

A,A designate supporting posts. These may be made of wood, metal or reinforced concrete, as desired. They are spaced apart, conveniently approximately nine feet or more and may be braced, if found desirable, by suitable guys, but these will not ordinarily be necessary.

It is necessary to maintain a proper alinement between the two posts and with that in view a metal bar B is extended across between the post the same being properly anchored in the posts at each end. This is con veniently accomplished by having the bar B formed with a collar .7) fixedly united to the bar at a given distance apart and abutting the inner faces of the posts. The outer ends of the bars are bolt-shaped, the same penetrating holes in the posts and being capped by suitable nuts and washers b. To maintain the center portion of the bar in rigid position against vertical deflection, it has been found desirable to extend from the upper portions of the posts angle members 13, the same being bolted or riveted centrally to the bar B and at their outer ends to the upper ends of the posts. A similar construction of tying means is employed at the base of the post wherein the tie bar B is connected to the posts in a manner similar to the upper tie bars, but the lower tie bar is braced from below by the metal straps or braces B By this construction a rigid rectangular frame is formed, one capable of supporting the sign elements presently to be described.

C designates the independent panel elements upon which the sign is to be painted. In a construction having the posts spaced nine feet apart, the height of the post will be such as to usually accommodate four of such elements. As the various swinging panels or sign elements are alike it will be necessary to describe but one and its particular specific mounting.

It has been long since recognized that a metallic sign has many advantages over wood. It is usually more permanent, can be made more regular for surface decoration and is not apt to warp or twist. The panels C are composed therefore of a single sheet of metal. This metal is strengthened along its upper edge by having its upper margin 0 bent outward at right angles, then backward and carried outward beyond the body of the element, a distance equal to the outbent portion. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The extreme edge is then rebent to a point where it comes in contact with the edge or end part of the body portion of the element CL 'This forms what may be characterized as a T-shaped margin, having a flat top which affords a strengthening edge for the element as well asan overhanging protector for the face of the sign. The plate C is of itself incapable of selfsupport owing to its thin characteristic.

Therefore it hasbeen found desirable and portions at their meeting points there is provided an 'L-shaped bracket member having its vertical leg closely fitting the fiat outer face of the upper ends of the T bar while the flat horizontal leg is fashioned to fit close against the upper surface of the rebent portion of the edge of the plates. In

- thisposition the bracket is riveted or otherwise fixedly secured to the two members, thereby formin a very substantial, rigid. and yet light panel structure.

For supporting the panels, it has been found desirable to employ means whereby the panels are permitted an easy swing for acertain distance without the objection of frictional squeaks or rubbing and without the necessity of the employment of a lubricant.

lVith this end in view there is formed as a part of the cas'ting'constituting bracket E and outstanding pivot lug F which is circular throughout its upper portion while its lower portion is carried downward and taperedto what may be termed substantially a knife edge. The shape of the lug is the same, "conveniently throughout.

Secured to'the opposite faces of the posts, in exact alinement with each other, are the bearings G. They are formed of metal and consist of a base plate 9 from which the bearingsG project laterally toward the panels. The base is provided with a plurality of openings adjacent the margin thereof,

through which suitable attaching bolts or screws may be passed.

Extending vertically through the rear of the base'plate G is a channel g in which is fitted for removal, a flat stem 7g of an outstanding retaining cap H. This cap extends outwardly from the base to the edge of the bearing G, as clearly shown in Fig. The bearingpart G is constructed with a hollow central portion having a bearing surface g at its base into which the supporting edge of the lug F is positioned. (in opposite sides of the bearing point are recesses 9 formed to receivethe cylindrical part of the lug when the side panel is tilted to an angle of approximately 90%. This permits a full freedom of movement of the sign on its pivot point but as soon as there is any tendency for further upward movement the pivot point raises from its bearing and the weight of the sign is thrown onto the curved surfaces of the bearing and lug, thus olfering material resistance to a further upward movement of the lower edge of the sign and causing the same to promptly return, when the pressure is removed, to its normal position.

An entry throat is formed in the uppe portion of the bearing G, as at g and this threat is conveniently of a diametersufficient to permit the lug F to pass therethrou'gh'when the'same is in normal posi tion. It is over this throat that the cap plate H is projected, the latter serving to prevent the removal of the sign element from its bearing. The cap plate H is held in position by having the stem'part thereof project below the bearing and punctured by one of the belts or screws employed for securing the lower portion of the base plate G. When it is desired to remove the panel it is only necessary to remove the single strew, the one designated :in the drawing as X, force the cap plate up, lift the bearing lugs from the bearings, the. lugs passing through the open throats, and thereafter replace a repainted or refinished sign element. The length of the lug F is slightly greater than the length of the bearing member G so that endwise movement of the said element is resisted'b'y the end of the lug coming in contact with the base plate G.

advantageous in that the extended This is surface of the bearing is prevented from coming in contact with the face of the bracket E;

In positioning the several sign elements it is only necessary to space them sufficiently far apart that the outwardly projecting top flanges will not engage or strike the extended flange directly above, but it has been found in practice that theseelements can be placed very close together so that single lettering can be extended over the combined areas of the various elements without materially interfering with the general appearance of the sign. Each element is'independent of the other and their maintained position of alinement is important soth'at they will yield'properly to undue wind pressure v and will afford a somewhat attractive appearance under more gentle wind pressure.

The construction thus described, as will be appreciated, is one wherein the sign or advertising can be placed on both sides of the panels, there being no backing bracing required. While it has been suggested to make signs composed of independent swinging sections I am not aware heretofore that this suggestion has been made practical or feasible for use in what I have termed a field sign. Of course the term field is to be construed liberally inasmuch as the signs 'described can be placed on buildings or other exposed places, although it is well adapted for general field service.

Should it be found that the advertising on the sign has become defaced or obliterated by the elements, it is only necessary for the artist to have the various panels taken from one sign and replaced by repainted panels and inasmuch as the advertisements are repeated a great many times, the sign elements which have been taken down can be used after refinishing for the next succeeding sign and so on until the entire line of advertising signs have been refinished, all without the necessity of having the artist appear at the place where the sign is planted.

Many obvious advantages and desirable characteristics of the sign will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Fatent is:

1. In a sign, the combination with suitably spaced supporting members, of a panel adapted to be located therebetween, and means for mounting the panel in swinging relation to the supporting members comprising projecting pivot members at the opposite ends of the panel and bearings on the supporting members receiving said pivot members, the pivot members and bearings being formed to have a centrally located edge engagement when the panel swings ithin predetermined limits and having other complemental laterally-located curved engaging portions adapted to cooperate and offer increased resistance to greater swinging movement of the panel after said predetermined limits are reached, substantially as described.

2. In a sign, the combination with suitably separated supporting members, of a panel adapted to be mounted therebetween, and means for supporting the panel for swinging movement on said supporting members comprising pivot members on the panel and bearings therefor on the supporting members, said pivot and bearing memhere being formed to present three points of pivotal engagement, one an intermediate point operating within given 7 limits of swinging movement of the panel, and the other two respectively laterally of said intermediate point to be brought into operation after said given limits of swinging movement have been reached.

3. In a sign, the combination with suitably spaced supporting members, of a panel adapted to be mounted therebetween, and means for supporting the panel for swinging movement on said supporting members comprising projecting pivots on the panel, bearings on the supporting members having lateral openings through which the pivots may be received, closures for said openings, and retaining shank portions for said closures normally held in position between the bearings and the supporting members, substantially as described.

4. In a sign, the combination with suitably spaced supporting members, of a panel adapted to be mounted therebetween, and means for supporting the panel for swinging movement on the supporting members comprising pivots projecting from the panel, bearings mounted on the supporting members having lateral openings to receive the pivots, closures for said openings, and means for securing the closures in place adapted to permit opening thereof without freeing the bearings from the supporting members, substantially as described.

5. In a sign, the combination with suitably spaced supporting members, of a panel adapted to be mounted therebetween, and means for supporting the panel for swinging movement on the supporting members comprising complemental pivots and bearings therefor between the upper portions of the ends of the panel and the supporting members, said panel being formed of a sheet metal body part reinforced both forwardly and rearwardly at its edge portion by correspondingly forwardly and rearwardly projecting metal flanges in part overhanging the faces of the panel to protect the same, and to assist the action of wind in swinging the panel while preserving the sheet metal body part against bending or distortion, substantially as described.

6. In a sign, the combination with suit ably spaced supporting members, of a panel adapted to be mounted therebetween, and means for supporting the panel for swinging movement on the supporting members comprising complemental pivots and bearings therefor between the upper portions of the ends of the panel and the supporting members, said panel being formed of a sheet metal body part reinforced both for wardly and rearwardly at its edge portion by correspondingly forwardly and rearwardly projecting metal flanges in part overhanging the faces of the panel to protect the same, and to assist the action of wind in swinging the panel while preserving the sheet metal body part against bending or distortion, said 'lonmrdly and rearn djaeent edge and ends, substantially wardly projecting metal flanges being described. 1 f r 10 formed along one edge by bending the-metal In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my of the sheet metal body part forwardly, signature in the presence of two witnesses. thence rearwardly and rebending the same GEORGE SCI-FWESINGER JR. toward said body part, and along the other Witnesses:

edge and ends by a cradle-like structure of OTTO T. STREQKER;

T-formation secured to the bodypart at the JOHN'L. COBERTH. Y 

